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Close-up of a pot filled with creamy Healthy One Pot Broccoli Mac & Cheese, featuring elbow pasta and vibrant broccoli florets.

Healthy One Pot Broccoli Mac & Cheese

This one pot broccoli mac and cheese recipe is easy to customize with your favorite veggies or proteins and always turns out so creamy and cheesy!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Mac and Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound uncooked pasta (shape with 7-8 minute cooking time recommended)
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 generous pinch fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper
  • 12 ounces broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 1 large head of broccoli)
  • 2 cups freshly-shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

Equipment

  • Large stockpot
  • Heatproof measuring cup

Method
 

  1. Heat butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until most of their liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are browned. Add onion and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add pasta, water, half and half, Dijon, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to break up the pasta. Once boiling, stir in the broccoli. Reduce heat to medium to maintain a low boil and continue cooking the pasta uncovered until it is just al dente.
  3. Check the liquid remaining in the pot. If there is more than about 1/2 cup, remove and save the excess liquid using a heatproof measuring cup.
  4. Stir in the cheeses until melted and combined. If the pasta seems too dry, stir some of the reserved liquid back in as needed.
  5. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Serve warm.

Notes

If your pasta requires a different cooking time, adjust the water amount accordingly. You should have about 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water remaining before adding the cheese.

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